On the morning of November 4 as we left Washington DC, we flipped on Music is a Weapon, a documentary following Fela Kuti, a musician who once ran for president of Nigeria.  Fela is a huge influence on the music that we have been creating, especially to Dahlak who has recently been dipping his toes in production.

Dubbed as the Father of Afrobeat, Fela was a singer and musician who used his art to influence politics in an unprecidented manner.  Determined to change the direction of his home country of Nigeria, he put himself forward as a presidential candidate in 1979 but was refused and treated like an outlaw.  Fela was immensely prolific, recording more albums than have been accounted for, and at a certain point in his career he held daily jam sessions that lasted all night long, and that people from throughout Africa would drive across several countries to witness.

Fela has influenced musicians across the musical spectrum, from Common to Erykah Badu to Red Hot Chili Peppers.  In the fall of 2008 his life was depicted off-Broadway in the musical Fela!, which received critical acclaim and is set for a Broadway run beginning in 2009.

Check out Music is a Weapon above, and let your life be changed.

BLACK GENIUSES is a new section of the iLL-Literacy blog inspired by Dahlak’s song “Black Genius.”

Born and raised in Harlem, James Baldwin is one of the most influential writers in 20th Century American literature.  Known for his keen talent in writing imagery and willingness to push the borders of social commentary, Baldwin was a pioneer for black and queer literature, and their intersections.

**So, can we note that during this time where Prop 8 is stripping people of rights, largely based on the fear of “gay literature in our childrens’ curriculums,” that would include Mr. Baldwin as well as, um, William Shakespeare??

Baldwin was good friends with poet Langston Hughes (Not Without Laughter) and playright Lorraine Hansberry (A Raisin in the Sun), and together are credited for introducing the philosophy of the Civil Rights Movement to none other than the legendary singer Nina Simone.  How’s that for a dope ass crew??

Baldwin is the writer of several classics, including Go Tell It On a Mountain and Giovanni’s Room, but if you’re just getting started, we recommend his short story, “Sonny’s Blues.”

Above is an excerpt of his interview with social scientist Kenneth B. Clark (conductor of the black doll experiment that helped win Brown v. Board of Education), where he shares his thoughts on Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, and the future of America.

BLACK GENIUSES is a new section of the iLL-Literacy blog inspired by Dahlak’s song “Black Genius.”

As a nod to Dahlak’s new song and video “Black Genius,” we present the similarly titled new section of the iLL-Blog, where we show you some of the videos, interviews, and articles from the prominent black voices of yesterday, today, and tomorrow…mostly comprised of the type of stuff we geek out to during rehearsal breaks and in the hotel rooms on tour.

First is this incredible conversation between professor and activist Cornell West (author of Race Matters), and legendary writer Toni Morrison (Beloved, Song of Solomon, The Bluest Eye, Sula, Jazz…and hella other books that make us feel inadequate as writers).

Taking place on March 24, 2004, it’s interesting to see how far we’ve advanced, as well as how stagnant we’ve remained, since this period rounding the end of Bush’s first term.  A conversation that moves from war to queer rights to artistic inspiration, here’s 60 minutes of your life well spent.

Click here to watch via Free Speech TV.